updated 08:30 am EDT, Tue August 4, 2009

Nikon S1000pj Official

Nikon today quickly validated last-minute leaks by launching four Coolpix cameras, two of which are company if not industry firsts. The S1000pj is the first known still camera to have its own projector and can output images up to 40 inches across, including during slideshows with background music. The 12-megapixel camera is similarly advanced for compacts outside of this and has a 5X stabilized lens along with smart portrait enhancements for face detection and masking skin imperfections; it shoots at up to ISO 6,400 at a reduced resolution.

The S70 is also new in its inclusion of a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen that provides better image quality and also supports faster touch operations like tap-to-shoot and even basic multi-touch gestures, like pinching to zoom in and out of previews. It has the same sensor, image stabilization and software features as the S1000pj.

In more familiar camera designs, the S640 and S570 both capture at 12 megapixels with 5X zoom but are separated by image quality. The S640 has image stabilization as well as a wide-angle lens and ISO 6,400 support. Moving to the S570 sheds the optical advancements and caps sensitivity at ISO 3,200, albeit at full resolution.

US customers get all four camera models in September, with the S1000pj topping the range at $430 while the S70 will cost $400. The conventional designs of the S640 and S570 bring their prices down to $250 and $200 respectively.